Toñita Fest Returns as Caribbean Social Club Celebrates 51 Years

Brooklyn’s Caribbean Social Club, one of the last surviving Puerto Rican social clubs in the city, will host its second annual Toñita Fest on Sunday (June 22). The festival marks the club’s 51st anniversary and the legacy of María Antonia Cay — better known as Toñita — whose contributions over five decades have elevated her to a revered figure in Williamsburg’s Latin community.

The event will feature a lineup of artists representing a variety of styles, including bomba and plena, Afro-Caribbean group Daso and Grupo Cemi, Latin Grammy winner La Lulu, and salsa orchestra The Anonima Orchestra. Additionally, there will be a domino tournament paying tribute to the club’s roots. The festival, organized with the help of the nonprofit La Gesta Inc., builds on the success of last year’s inaugural event, which drew over 4,000 attendees from across the city.

Yet behind the exuberance of the festival lies a quiet reflection on what it means to preserve dwindling cultural spaces like Toñita’s amid the gentrification of Williamsburg. “It’s very important to bring people together from all walks of life,” she tells Billboard Español at the venue. “Whenever [the locals] come in, it’s like they’re at my home. They feel good and happy.”

In 1973, Toñita founded the Caribbean Social Club as a gathering spot for the Puerto Rican baseball team she managed. “The club started because the baseball league didn’t have a place to get together. Mommy created the space where that could be possible for us,” Toñita’s daughter, Sylvia Rosado, says.

Dominoes, beer and music shaped its laid-back atmosphere. Over time, the club grew into something much bigger — not just a place for intergenerational gatherings but a resource for addressing community needs like hunger and displacement.

“The amount of food that we’re cooking now daily — because we cook daily for the people who are less fortunate — is astounding,” Rosado added as she spoke about her mother’s ongoing impact. Fifty-one years later, those same elements endure, though Williamsburg’s demographic changes have significantly diminished cultural spaces like Toñita’s.

Although Toñita’s mission has always been centered around community, fame has recently found her. In 2022, superstar Bad Bunny visited the club on Residente’s recommendation. In 2025, Bunny name-dropped her in his song “NuevaYol” from his album Debí Tirar Más Fotos. She was also invited to celebrate the Puerto Rico-themed album on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon alongside then co-host Bunny. Toñita’s reaction to the superstar’s recognition was, as always, understated: “It was immensely joyful, and I’m happy. I hope it can happen again,” she says.

Over the years, artists like Rauw Alejandro, J Balvin, Nicky Jam, and Guaynaa have also visited this iconic Williamsburg space, drawn by its authenticity and cultural significance. However, for Toñita, celebrity visits pale in comparison to the satisfaction of seeing her club continue to thrive decade after decade, expanding its legacy through events like Toñita Fest.

Giovanni González, one of the festival’s organizers, added: “This is one of the last social clubs left in Williamsburg. It’s a real effort to make this place thrive in such a small space. But just like Puerto Rico, size doesn’t matter — it’s the heart and energy of the people that make it what it is.”

Emerging Mexican singer-songwriter emjay, who will be performing in the U.S. for the first time at Toñita Fest, shared her excitement about being part of the event: “It’s a true honor. To be considered so that New York’s Latin community can get to know my music, and especially at such an incredible event like Toñita’s, is amazing.”

As Williamsburg continues to transform, Toñita’s Caribbean Social Club stays rooted in its purpose — but for how long? Toñita herself insists she doesn’t dwell on legacy, stating, “Memories are memories; I don’t place too much emphasis on them,” though her longevity speaks for itself. For this year’s attendees, the festival represents far more than just music or dominoes; it’s a reminder of the importance of preserving the spaces that keep Latin identity alive in New York.